Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Season 4, Episode 6
Original Air Date: October 30, 1995
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| via Wikipedia |
A Trill science team arrives at the station, led by Lenara Kahn (Susanna Thompson), complicating matters for Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell). Lenara is a joined Trill and her symbiont Kahn's previous host Nilani was married to Dax's previous host, Torias. Reassociation by later hosts is forbidden by Trill law so Lenara and Jadzia must keep their interactions professional. There's a problem. The two are clearly still in love.
In my post about the TNG episode "The Perfect Mate," I wrote about the television romances I truly believe. Kahn/Dax is top of the list for me. Their irresistible attraction is obvious from the beginning. The build up of sexual tension is deliciously excruciating. Then the kiss. Wow! It's not just the best Trek kiss or the best same-sex kiss or whatever. It's one of the greatest on-screen kisses you'll ever see. Evidently, Farrell asked Thompson's husband beforehand about what turned his wife on. His advice was clearly helpful.
Within the context of the narrative, the fact that Jadzia and Lenara are both women is irrelevant. Nobody cares. This was intentional, of course. Star Trek seemingly always has a cover ready in situations like this. For instance, Kirk and Uhura shared their groundbreaking kiss in "Plato's Stepchildren" because they were under mind-control. Avery Brooks, who directed the episode, and most of the creative staff have long downplayed the historical relevance of "Rejoined," claiming it's not really about homosexuality. Terry Farrell, on the other hand, has always embraced it, celebrating the many LGBTQIA+ fans who have approached her over the years and told her how meaningful the story was to them.
In the real world, there was push back. Paramount received plenty of angry correspondence from conservative fans, just as they had for "Plato's Stepchildren." It would be another 22 years before Star Trek had a same-sex kiss between two men.
Acting Notes
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| via Live Action Wiki |
Susanna Thompson was born in San Diego, January 27, 1958. She graduated from San Diego State University. "Rejoined" was her third of six Star Trek appearances. Her films include Little Giants, Random Hearts and Dragonfly. On television, she has had principal cast roles on Once and Again, Kings and Arrow.
I didn't realize how significant "Rejoined" was for LGBTQIA+ representation in Star Trek. It's meaningful to see how Terry Farrell embraced the impact of the episode. Thanks for sharing this insight. It really highlights how far we've come in TV representation.
ReplyDeleteAnd also how much work remains to be done.
DeleteI didn't know about that representation...
ReplyDeleteGlad to share.
DeleteI am not one to see 2 women get it on but that's me. I just think how can a straight actress do this..I couldn't. That being said, this is a powerful scene and it should be applauded because it is about the mind not which body it is in. Sad how man conservative uprights wrote in. Sad how many are out there. I loved Plato's Children and am glad about that kiss.
ReplyDeleteThe over-the-top emotional reactions to such material is truly astonishing. I'm amazed people care enough to be that angry.
DeleteMy parents gave up on the show when this happened. They didn’t let me watch it. But after they reopened permission. This was the exact moment DS9 became the Star Trek series only I watched. But everyone els dropped off the later shows. My brothers view Voyager about the same way you do. Except they never actually watched it.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to work hard here at avoiding the third rail of commenting on someone else's family dynamics...
DeleteI'm eternally amazed by how socially conservative the scifi fan community is, especially Trekkies. The whole show has been predicated on acceptance and being better people since 1966. I suppose everyone has their limit but the views of many are so much more limited than you'd expect. Were we all even watching the same show?
To be honest, I was on my own with pretty much all of science fiction growing up. The rest of my nuclear family just didn't get it. The same was mostly true with my sports, obsession, too, though at least they'd all gather round for Olympic figure skating every four years. Thankfully, I had friends who loved both as much as I did.
My nuclear family now is another matter entirely. My child has considerably more geek cred than I do. Currently spreading the Trek gospel in their dorm, too.